Patents by Inventor Rafael T. Ramirez

Rafael T. Ramirez has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230255296
    Abstract: A helmet for protection during an impact, wherein an inner liner may slidably couple to the outer liner through at least one return spring. The outer liner includes an interior surface with a shelf extending inward. The shelf includes an arresting surface. The inner liner has an exterior surface, an interior surface and an edge connecting the exterior surface to the interior surface. The edge faces the arresting surface of the shelf. The inner liner is slidably movable relative to the outer liner between a first position in which the edge of the inner liner is separated from the arresting surface of the shelf by a first gap, and an arrested position in which a portion of the edge of the inner liner is in contact with a portion of the arresting surface of the shelf.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Samuel J. Shaffer, Mark A. Busse, Rafael T. Ramirez, Eamon Briggs
  • Patent number: 11672295
    Abstract: A helmet may include a helmet body, a fit system, a bezel, and a hardware retainer. The helmet body may have an outer shell and an energy management layer. The bezel may be separate from the outer shell and coupled to the helmet body at the vent opening of the helmet, encircle the vent opening, and have a hardware opening extending through the bezel and an anchor opening in the bezel adjacent the hardware opening. The hardware retainer may be positioned behind and coupled to the bezel. The hardware retainer may include a hardware receiving aperture aligned with the hardware opening and a hardware retainer cover coupled to a rear side of the hardware retainer. The hardware retainer may further include an anchor recess aligned with the anchor opening. The bezel may be in-molded into the energy management layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel J. Shaffer, Mark A. Busse, Rafael T. Ramirez
  • Patent number: 11647804
    Abstract: A helmet is disclosed for protection during an impact. An inner liner may slidably couple to the outer liner through at least one return spring. The outer liner includes an interior surface with a shelf extending inward. The shelf includes an arresting surface. The inner liner has an exterior surface, an interior surface and an edge connecting the exterior surface to the interior surface. The edge faces the arresting surface of the shelf. The inner liner is slidably movable relative to the outer liner between a first position in which the edge of the inner liner is separated from the arresting surface of the shelf by a first gap, and an arrested position in which a portion of the edge of the inner liner is in contact with a portion of the arresting surface of the shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel J. Shaffer, Mark A. Busse, Rafael T. Ramirez, Eamon Briggs
  • Patent number: 11419380
    Abstract: A helmet may include an outer liner and an inner liner disposed inward from the outer liner, the inner liner comprising an inner surface with at least one hole. A fit belt may comprise at least one pin coupled to an inner surface of the inner liner with the at least one hole mateably coupled with the at least one pin. An elastomeric strap may comprise an inner end and an outer end opposite the inner end. The outer end of the elastomeric strap may be coupled to an inner surface of the outer liner. The outer end of the elastomeric strap may comprise a recess and a fastener that extends through the recess of the outer end of the elastomeric strap to couple the elastomeric strap to the outer liner. The inner end of the elastomeric strap may be coupled to the fit belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel J. Shaffer, Rafael T. Ramirez
  • Publication number: 20210030100
    Abstract: A helmet is disclosed for protection during an impact. An inner liner may slidably couple to the outer liner through at least one return spring. The outer liner includes an interior surface with a shelf extending inward. The shelf includes an arresting surface. The inner liner has an exterior surface, an interior surface and an edge connecting the exterior surface to the interior surface. The edge faces the arresting surface of the shelf. The inner liner is slidably movable relative to the outer liner between a first position in which the edge of the inner liner is separated from the arresting surface of the shelf by a first gap, and an arrested position in which a portion of the edge of the inner liner is in contact with a portion of the arresting surface of the shelf.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Samuel J. Shaffer, Mark A. Busse, Rafael T. Ramirez, Eamon Briggs
  • Publication number: 20210007431
    Abstract: A helmet may include a helmet body, a fit system, a bezel, and a hardware retainer. The helmet body may have an outer shell and an energy management layer. The bezel may be separate from the outer shell and coupled to the helmet body at the vent opening of the helmet, encircle the vent opening, and have a hardware opening extending through the bezel and an anchor opening in the bezel adjacent the hardware opening. The hardware retainer may be positioned behind and coupled to the bezel. The hardware retainer may include a hardware receiving aperture aligned with the hardware opening and a hardware retainer cover coupled to a rear side of the hardware retainer. The hardware retainer may further include an anchor recess aligned with the anchor opening. The bezel may be in-molded into the energy management layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Samuel J. Shaffer, Mark A. Busse, Rafael T. Ramirez
  • Patent number: 10834988
    Abstract: A helmet is disclosed for protection during an impact. An inner liner may slidably couple to the outer liner through at least one return spring. The outer liner includes an interior surface with a shelf extending inward. The shelf includes an arresting surface. The inner liner has an exterior surface, an interior surface and an edge connecting the exterior surface to the interior surface. The edge faces the arresting surface of the shelf. The inner liner is slidably movable relative to the outer liner between a first position in which the edge of the inner liner is separated from the arresting surface of the shelf by a first gap, and an arrested position in which a portion of the edge of the inner liner is in contact with a portion of the arresting surface of the shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: BELL SPORTS, INC.
    Inventors: Samuel J. Shaffer, Mark A. Busse, Rafael T. Ramirez, Eamon Briggs
  • Patent number: 10786027
    Abstract: A helmet may include a helmet body, a fit system, a bezel, and a hardware retainer. The helmet body may have an outer shell and an energy management layer. The bezel may be separate from the outer shell and coupled to the helmet body at the vent opening of the helmet, encircle the vent opening, and have a hardware opening extending through the bezel and an anchor opening in the bezel adjacent the hardware opening. The hardware retainer may be positioned behind and coupled to the bezel. The hardware retainer may include a hardware receiving aperture aligned with the hardware opening and a hardware retainer cover coupled to a rear side of the hardware retainer. The hardware retainer may further include an anchor recess aligned with the anchor opening. The bezel may be in-molded into the energy management layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: BELL SPORTS, INC.
    Inventors: Samuel J. Shaffer, Mark A. Busse, Rafael T. Ramirez
  • Publication number: 20200046057
    Abstract: A helmet may include an outer liner and an inner liner disposed inward from the outer liner, the inner liner comprising an inner surface with at least one hole. A fit belt may comprise at least one pin coupled to an inner surface of the inner liner with the at least one hole mateably coupled with the at least one pin. An elastomeric strap may comprise an inner end and an outer end opposite the inner end. The outer end of the elastomeric strap may be coupled to an inner surface of the outer liner. The outer end of the elastomeric strap may comprise a recess and a fastener that extends through the recess of the outer end of the elastomeric strap to couple the elastomeric strap to the outer liner. The inner end of the elastomeric strap may be coupled to the fit belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Samuel J. Shaffer, Rafael T. Ramirez
  • Publication number: 20190000174
    Abstract: A helmet is disclosed for protection during an impact. An inner liner may slidably couple to the outer liner through at least one return spring. The outer liner includes an interior surface with a shelf extending inward. The shelf includes an arresting surface. The inner liner has an exterior surface, an interior surface and an edge connecting the exterior surface to the interior surface. The edge faces the arresting surface of the shelf. The inner liner is slidably movable relative to the outer liner between a first position in which the edge of the inner liner is separated from the arresting surface of the shelf by a first gap, and an arrested position in which a portion of the edge of the inner liner is in contact with a portion of the arresting surface of the shelf.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Samuel J. Shaffer, Mark A. Busse, Rafael T. Ramirez, Eamon Briggs
  • Patent number: 10010126
    Abstract: A helmet is disclosed for protection during an impact. An outer liner and an inner liner slidably coupled to an interior surface of the outer liner through at least one return spring. The outer liner includes an interior surface with a shelf extending inward. The shelf includes an arresting surface. The inner liner has an exterior surface, an interior surface and an edge connecting the exterior surface to the interior surface. The edge faces the arresting surface of the shelf. The inner liner is slidably movable relative to the outer liner between a first position in which the edge of the inner liner is separated from the arresting surface of the shelf by a gap, and an arrested position in which a portion of the edge of the inner liner is in contact with a portion of the arresting surface of the shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel J. Shaffer, Mark A. Busse, Rafael T. Ramirez, Eamon Briggs